Heart of St. Camillus set for Killucan this Sunday

Huge crowds of worshippers are expected to flock to Killucan from this Sunday, July 11, when the Heart of St. Camillus de Lellis will be venerated at the Camillian Fathers' house.The relic of the Italian - the patron saint of the sick and those who care for them - will appear in Ireland for the very first time, to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Order of St. Camillus in Ireland. Since the saint's death in 1614, the heart, which is based at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome, has left the Italy just twice for visits to Poland and Peru.From July 11, the Heart may be venerated each evening between 4pm and 9pm until the following Wednesday, July 14 (the feast of St. Camillus). Daily, Mass and Novena prayers will take place from 7pm, led by Fr. Arnaldo Pangrazzi MI, a professor at the Camillian University in Rome.At 7pm on July 14, Mass will be celebrated by Most Rev. Dr. Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, and from 10pm that night to 4am the next morning, a Night Vigil of Gratitude will be observed.After leaving Killucan the Heart will move to the Mater Hospital and St. Joseph's Carmelite Church, Dublin (July 15), the Pro Cathedral in Dublin (July 16), and finally to the Knock (July 24), before returning to Rome.Fr. Frank Monks MI, the former Superior General of the Order of St. Camillus, based in Killucan, said preparations for the arrival of worshippers are in their final stages."Camillian communities were founded, not to exist for themselves as holy huddles of the like minded, but rather so as to provide a service within the local community," Fr. Monks wrote to the people of Killucan recently."We are delighted to be able to share the Heart of St. Camillus, which is so precious to us, with you our friends in the local parish who have always welcomed us and made us feel a part of the area."